Reality of missing playoffs hits hard for Giants

Dec. 30, 2012
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Giants quarterback Eli Manning drops back to pass during the regular-season finale against the Eagles on Sunday. New York won but is still eliminated from the playoffs. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. â?? Osi Umenyiora was finishing getting dressed at his locker and, right before he picked his head up to answer the first question, he asked one of his own.

"Did Detroit win?"

The Lions did not. They lost to the Chicago Bears, which meant the New York Giants' 42-7 blowout of the Philadelphia Eagles that had just transpired was pretty much only worth the things Tom Coughlin had discussed a few days earlier: "Pride, honor and dignity."

The Giants were eliminated from the postseason, the first defending champ since the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 14th Super Bowl winner to not make the playoffs the next season.

"(Sunday) is the type of team we showed every three weeks or so. Why we couldn't do that every week, I don't know, I really don't know," said right guard Chris Snee, who tracked the Bears' victory on his phone and then leaned back in his chair with his hands folded behind his head for a few minutes. "It is frustrating because I honestly believe, if we'd found a way to get in, we would make some noise."

It's frustrating for the Giants because they learned all 9-7 records are not created equal. Last year, 9-7 was good enough to sneak into the playoffs, where they won four straight to lift the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in four seasons.

Heck, even 10-6 is no guarantee. That's the record they had two seasons ago and it didn't net them a postseason berth.

The best way into the playoffs is to play good, consistent football from Weeks 1 through 17. For whatever reason â?? scheduling, mental fatigue caused in part by Hurricane Sandy and the Newtown, Conn. shooting, Super Bowl hangover â?? they stumbled again with bad losses to the Atlanta Falcons (34-0) and Baltimore Ravens (33-14), which meant they needed the Lions, Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins to win Sunday.

"It's like five people juggling a baby," tight end Martellus Bennett said. "Somebody's going to drop him.''

Added Coughlin, "You have to take care of your own business, and we certainly had our chances. â?¦ And I really do want to discuss with some of the players what in the world the last two weeks (were) all about."

The Giants were 3-5 after a 6-2 start and are now 30-42 in the second half of their seasons under Coughlin. They've often struggled late in the year, though it's baffling why they were able to flip the switch in 2007 and '11.